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| Thai PM Yingluck to dissolve parliament and call elections | Thai PM Yingluck to dissolve parliament and call elections |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will dissolve parliament and call an election, after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok. | Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will dissolve parliament and call an election, after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok. |
| The move followed the resignation of all opposition MPs from parliament on Sunday, and a planned march on Government House on Monday. | The move followed the resignation of all opposition MPs from parliament on Sunday, and a planned march on Government House on Monday. |
| Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011. | Ms Yingluck won elections in 2011. |
| However the protesters allege her government is controlled by ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and have vowed to continue the demonstrations. | However the protesters allege her government is controlled by ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and have vowed to continue the demonstrations. |
| The announcement came as Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on television. | The announcement came as Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on television. |
| "The government does not want any loss of life," she said. | |
| "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election," she said. "So the Thai people will decide." | "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election," she said. "So the Thai people will decide." |
| No date was given for the polls but Ms Yingluck said they would be held "as soon as possible". | No date was given for the polls but Ms Yingluck said they would be held "as soon as possible". |
| Correspondents say that elections are expected within the next 60 days. | Correspondents say that elections are expected within the next 60 days. |
| 'Thaksin regime' | 'Thaksin regime' |
| Ms Yingluck's party draws considerable support from mainly poor and rural areas of Thailand, and would be seen as well-placed to win an election. | |
| Anti-government protesters, who have been calling for her government to be replaced with an unelected "people's council", say the rallies will continue. | Anti-government protesters, who have been calling for her government to be replaced with an unelected "people's council", say the rallies will continue. |
| Protester leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was formerly a senior opposition politician, said: "The movement will keep on fighting. Our goal is to uproot the Thaksin regime." | Protester leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was formerly a senior opposition politician, said: "The movement will keep on fighting. Our goal is to uproot the Thaksin regime." |
| "Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he added. | "Although the House is dissolved and there will be new elections, the Thaksin regime is still in place," he added. |
| Demonstrators began their march on Monday, with officials saying they expected around 100,000 protesters. More than 60 schools in Bangkok have closed as a precautionary measure, AP news agency reports. | |
| "Police are unarmed, with only shields and batons. We will not use tear gas, or if we have no choice, its use will be limited," Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said on Sunday. | |
| More than 90 people died during the political turmoil of 2010, when thousands of supporters of ousted leader Mr Thaksin, who is also Ms Yingluck's brother, occupied parts of Bangkok. They were eventually cleared by the army. | |
| Mr Thaksin is in self-imposed exile after he was overthrown in a military army coup in 2006 and convicted of corruption. However, he is still considered influential in Thai politics. | |
| The latest row began when Ms Yingluck's government attempted to introduce a controversial political amnesty bill, which critics said would have allowed Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand without having to serve time in jail. | |
| The bill sparked massive opposition and brought tens of thousands of protesters to the streets. | |
| It was rejected by the Senate, but anti-government demonstrations continued, as protesters called for the government to resign. |